Fuel cell

Abstract

A fuel cell is provided which comprises a plurality of manifolds at a first end and a second end of the fuel cell and a separator having passages between the first and the second ends of the fuel cell. In particular, the fuel cell includes a nozzle disposed between at least one of the plurality of manifolds and the passages and having an inlet into which a material is introduced from the at least one of the plurality of manifolds and an outlet from which the introduced material is discharged to the passages.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuel cell, comprising:
 a plurality of manifolds disposed at a first end and a second end of the fuel cell; 
 a separator having passages between the first end and the second end of the fuel cell; 
 a nozzle disposed between at least one of the plurality of manifolds and the passages and having an inlet into which a material is introduced from the at least one of the plurality of manifolds and an outlet from which the introduced material is discharged to the passages; 
 a pair of end passages formed in a widthwise direction of the separator at a first end and a second end of the passages; and 
 a plurality of flow passages formed in a lengthwise direction of the separator between the pair of end passages such that the pair of end passages communicate with each other and are disposed along a widthwise direction of the separator, 
 wherein the plurality of flow passages include a main flow passage and a plurality of sub-flow passages, 
 wherein the main flow passage is provided with the nozzle at a first side with a first end of the separator and located in correspondence to the outlet of the nozzle, the material discharged from the outlet is directly introduced throughout the main flow passage and the width of the main flow passage increases gradually from the first end of the passages to the second end of the passages, 
 wherein the material discharged flows to the second end passage after passing through the main flow passage and then flows to the first end passage through the sub-flow passages, so that the material introduced into the first end passage is merged into the material discharged from the outlet to flow to the second end passage, thereby recirculating the material, and 
 wherein the plurality of manifolds include:
 a hydrogen supply manifold configured to supply hydrogen to the passages; and 
 a drain manifold configured to discharge the material existing in the passages to the exterior, 
 wherein the hydrogen supply manifold and the drain manifold are disposed at the same end of the separator. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is disposed between the passages and a hydrogen supply manifold configured to supply hydrogen to the passages. 
     
     
       3. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is disposed at a first side of the passages, and one of the pair of end passages adjacent to the nozzle communicate with the outlet of the nozzle. 
     
     
       4. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed along a circumference of at least one of the plurality of manifolds to be attached to the separator, 
 wherein an end of the gasket close to the passages is separated to define the outlet of the nozzle. 
 
     
     
       5. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed along a circumference of at least one of the plurality of manifolds to be attached to the separator, 
 wherein the nozzle is integrally formed with the gasket and the outlet protrudes toward the passages. 
 
     
     
       6. The fuel cell of  claim 5 , wherein the separator further comprises:
 a connection passage that connects at least one of the plurality of manifolds and the passages; and 
 a portion of the nozzle is inserted into the connection passage. 
 
     
     
       7. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed along a circumference of at least one of the plurality of manifolds to be attached to the separator, 
 wherein the nozzle is formed by inserting a tube into the gasket. 
 
     
     
       8. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , wherein the separator further comprises:
 a connection passage that connects at least one of the plurality of manifolds and the passages, 
 wherein the nozzle is inserted into the connection passage. 
 
     
     
       9. The fuel cell of  claim 8 , wherein an insertion recess is formed at a side of the connection passage, and the nozzle has a coupling boss inserted into the insertion recess. 
     
     
       10. The fuel cell of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a gasket disposed along a circumference of at least one of the plurality of manifolds to be attached to the separator, 
 wherein any nozzle formed integrally with the gasket has a portion covered by the gasket. 
 
     
     
       11. The fuel cell of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the drain manifold includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the discharged hydrogen. 
 
     
     
       12. The fuel cell of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section area of the outlet is less than a cross-section area of the inlet.